February's CPI met analyst expectations
Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) futures are in the red this morning, under pressure once more from blue-chip heavyweight Boeing (BA). Not only did the aerospace name receive two downgrades on Wall Street this morning -- with DZ Bank issuing the stock's first "sell" ratings in nearly two years -- Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia joined the growing list of countries grounding the 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Futures on the S&P 500 Index (SPX) and Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) are pointed cautiously higher, though, after data showed the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.2% in February, on par with expectations.
Continue reading for more on today's market, including:
Schaeffer's Senior V.P. of Research Todd Salamone says a VIX close above this level could be a warning sign.Analysts called a top on this outperforming REIT.Why BMO downgraded Cronos Group.Plus, SFIX soaring after earnings beat; and two downgraded beverage stocks.
It was another positive session for Asian equities, with Chinese state media reporting on a phone call between U.S. trade representatives and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He overnight, again lifting hopes for a potential trade agreement. As such, China's Shanghai Composite rose 1.1%, and this was bested by a 1.5% gain in Hong Kong's Hang Seng. The Nikkei performed even better in Japan, closing with a 1.8% lead, and South Korea's Kospi added 0.9%.
Stocks in Europe are mostly in the red today. Traders are digesting news that British Prime Minister Theresa May has won support from the European Union for the most contentious parts of her Brexit deal, ahead of a vote in parliament today. London's FTSE 100 is up 0.2% so far, while France's CAC 40 is down 0.3%, and Germany's DAX is off 0.2%.